New Poll On Right Sidebar Of The Blog; Simple Question Being Posed; “Have You Ever Been To The Great Lakes Branch Of The National Archives (NARA) In Chicago, IL To Do Family History Research? “; “Yes” Or “No”?

Well, here goes another Poll that is now on the right sidebar of the blog right at the top of the blog homepage.

This time I am just asking for a simple response to a very basic question.

“Have You Ever Been To The Great Lakes Branch Of The National Archives (NARA) In Chicago To Do Family History Research?” Yes or No

Simple, direct and to the point.

The Great Lakes Branch of the National Archives (NARA) is literally in our own backyard in the City of Chicago, IL. For those of us living in the suburban ring around the city, we may find that getting to the facility can be a long, arduous and congested drive to get there at 7358 South Pulaski Road in Chicago, IL. Like anything, all good things are worth the effort!

Parking is not a problem. Many drivers have a certain uneasiness of driving into the heart of Chicago because of the congestion or the parking issues. There is plenty of parking.

I have visited the facility at least twice. The first time was in the pre-census online days when you still had to actually access microfilm. It was a long drive to get there but I know I left with amazing amounts of Census related data that filled my research coffers with enough material to analyze for months and months!

You may think there is no longer a need to visit the facility anymore because all of that census data is now online. The Great Lakes Branch of the National Archives is far more than just census records that could apply to your genealogy.

Don’t overlook the occasional unique programs the facility puts on for the public. The topics can be broader than just genealogy but yet have a flavor of genealogy embedded in them.

There are Naturalization Records, Bankruptcy Records, Selective Service Records and many, many more categories of records. The records do not just apply to Illinois. There are many more midwestern states’ records included in the collection of this facility.

Take a look at all of the information about this facility from the following link. Get answers to many of the questions you may have about the facility. See the kinds of records stored there for access by you the researcher. Check out the information about the Great Lakes Branch of the National Archives at: